The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1887-11-19

liquor, MR. QIaImInR the other -
bio share Ne 5nnted my horse. and
making Sid slowly before him.
directly ny Prough bride path
In and among he hoavy thick timber.
VIII the did not KIN me at once I do
|'yr know. except that he may have de-
Hired to prolong my torture. or to
really keep faith with his fellows.
We rode In silence for an hour or
more. At last we came to small
clearing; niger patch IN the centre
Of which was tumbleddown hut.
Here Kingsley stopped, dismountcd.
united my feet, motioned me to enter
the cabin and followed me.
The only occupant of the. place was
little. thin. half-starved yellow
woman. She seemed scared TO DEATH
when we invaded her poor place. but
on demand furnished us drink Of
water. and Kingsley a piece OF corn
bread. She gave me one, but he struck
IL from her hand. saying;
LET the---Yankee starver'
This gave her clew to the whole
situation and could see that she
sympathIzcd with me- but was power
less to give me aid. Several times she
made excuses and tried to 90 out but
was ordered. with many oaths TO re-
main where she was.
will not attempt to describe my
feelings, they can easily be imagined.
The thoughts of snch an ienoble end
ing TO an extended and somcwhat
creditable military career was what
troubled me most. But I knew that
nothing short of miracle could save
me.
Kengsley had been frequent In his at
| tentions TO the canteen OF whisky dur
ing our ride and now he had II at his
mouth every few minutes. With every
drink his rage increased. aud he pour
ell upon my head all the vile curses and
foul names he could think of or invent.
He kicked and cuffed me. struck me
almost stunning blows on the head with
the butt Of his revolver. and took
devilish pleasure in picturing the tor
mcnts to which would be subjected.
From the way he tilted the canteen
could see that II would soon be empty.
and l fully expected that my life would
end with the liquor.
He was mad with rage and drunken
ness.
He drained the last drop and threw
the vessel from him. then sat for time
in moody silence, casting Chances Of
hate at me and playing with his re-
volver.
'.At last with terrible oath that he
would ''iinish me now" he rose and
placed the pistol whiting three inches
Of my forehead.
He meant to kill me, could see II in
his. eyes. Ho delayed moment In
pulling the trigger The little black
woman sprang for him and grasped his
arms
'Not hersl not here!" she cried pite-
ously.
The man turned upon her. was so
tied hand and foot. that could neither
aid nor escape. That woman chung 10
him, he could not shake her of, nor
could his blows hurt her much ut such
close quarters.
Two shots he fired without effect.
while the woman struggled and with
ed and wound herself about him.
To more easily grasp her he must
have loosened his hold on the pistol. at
all events It flew from his hand and fell
behind an old box that was standing in
a corner. His hands both free. no
seized the poor creature by the throat.
chokcd her almost into insensibility.
then lifted and slammed" her, in a
helpless mass on the dirty floor.
There was no hope for rue now
Painting with his exortions he made
his way to the box. and his head turn
ell to watch me. grouped with his hand
for the pistol.
Muttering hot curses no fumbled
around for moment or two. then gave
a start. quick glance at the dark cav
ity and uttered fearful YELL straight
ened up. and saw tho most frightful.
tcrror-stricken face my eyes ever look
ed upon.
In a second long. thin. black body
glided across the floor and out OF the
door. 1t was hugo rattlcsnake. and
H., fao.~a h.I .l,snd .v.II ..uI ,laadl,y L.,